From its foundation in 1768 the Royal Academy of Arts has provided a voice for art and artists. We are an independent charity led by eminent artists and architects—the Royal Academicians—and we pursue our mission through exhibitions, education and debate.

Summer Exhibition 2016

Discover exciting new talent alongside established stars of the art world at the annual Summer Exhibition. With over 1,200 works showcasing everything from watercolour paintings to videos and photography there is something for everyone.

“The Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition feels fresh” – The Times

“Eclectic, whimsical chaos” – The Telegraph

In the words of co-ordinator Richard Wilson RA, this year’s edition of the Summer Exhibition is “unpredictable, stimulating and startling.”

Famous as the world’s largest open submission show, there are certain things the Summer Exhibition delivers on every single year: a panorama of art in all mediums, a remarkable mixture of emerging artists and household names, and more to see and explore than any other exhibition you’re likely to visit this year.

Keep a particular look out for work by some of the art world’s most successful artistic duos – specially invited by Richard Wilson RA – whose work is dispersed throughout. Highlights include a large-scale suspended kite sculpture by Heather and Ivan Morison, sculpture by brothers Jake and Dinos Chapman, and an atmospheric photographic installation from Jane and Louise Wilson.

As in previous years, most works are for sale, giving you the opportunity to own original artworks by leading artists of today and tomorrow. And, crucially, proceeds allow us to continue providing, free, world-class postgraduate tuition in the RA Schools.

The Architecture Gallery will be jointly curated by Academicians Ian Ritchie and Louisa Hutton.

Richard Wilson is one of Britain’s most celebrated sculptors. He is internationally celebrated for his interventions in architectural space which draw heavily for their inspiration from the worlds of engineering and construction. Wilson is best known for his provoking and playful installations, such as 20:50, a sea of reflective sump oil which is permanently installed in the Saatchi Collection.

The Summer Exhibition 2016 will be unpredictable, stimulating, and enjoyable with 10 startling rooms of contemporary art submitted from around the world. Each of the rooms will be hung by a member of the committee, resulting in themes of free speculation, practice or technique.

Richard Wilson RA, Summer Exhibition 2016 Coordinator

Summer in the Courtyard

Spyre by Ron Arad

A new, monumental kinetic sculpture by Israeli designer and sculptor, Ron Arad, titled Spyre, will be on display in the Annenberg Courtyard throughout the Summer Exhibition.

Spyre is an 18 metre tall corten steel moving cone, containing motors, cogs, and slew-rings. Each segment will move at a different speed, ensuring that the sculpture’s unpredictable acrobatic postures are never repeated. Spyre has an eye at its tip containing a camera which will film its surroundings constantly. Whatever it films will be streamed to a screen on the façade of Burlington House so that visitors can view whatever Spyre ‘sees’.

Get more out of the exhibition

Order the Summer Exhibition Illustrated 2016

The Summer Exhibition Illustrated catalogue offers a fascinating insight into one of the RA’s annual highlights.

Author Richard Davey met with all the Royal Academicians on the hanging committee - including the Summer Exhibition coordinator – sculptor Richard Wilson RA. The result is an insightful account of their various approaches to the arrangement of each gallery.

The 2016 edition also includes spectacular installation shots of the galleries and numerous reproductions of the works on display.

Offers

Win a year’s worth of flowers from Bloom & Wild and a VIP morning in the Summer Exhibition

Together, we’re giving you the chance to win a VIP morning for you and up to three guests in the 248th annual Summer Exhibition, plus the accompanying Summer Exhibition Illustrated catalogue and an annual flower subscription from florist Bloom & Wild. Bloom & Wild deliver their flowers in-bud in their innovative letterbox packaging so that your blooms last longer.

Piccadilly site

Burlington Gardens site

A voice for art and artists since 1768

The Royal Academy of Arts is an independent charity and does not receive revenue funding from government. We are entirely reliant upon the support of visitors, our loyal Friends, Patrons, donors and sponsors to continue our work. Your support is our future.